Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has criticised the club's players after the second-half collapse in the Europa Legaue final last night, tweeting that several stars "are not as good as they think they are" and suggesting the defeat could prove a blessing in disguise.

The Reds went into half-time in Basel a goal to the good thanks to Daniel Sturridge's superb strike, but an equaliser after 17 seconds of the second period and two goals from Sevilla midfielder Coke dashed their dreams of glory.

It was not only Moreno, however. Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet once again failed to cover himself in glory, whilst Philippe Coutinho, widely billed as one of Liverpool's greatest current stars and a big-game player, was utterly anonymous.

Sleeping on the result clearly has done nothing to abate Fowler's anger at the display, and in a tweet on Thursday afternoon he aimed a dig at the Liverpool players he felt had let the club and its supporters down.

Wasn't to be ... Some shizer performances on show last night..Maybe blessing in disguise? Some players not as good as they think they are

The former striker wrote: "Wasn't to be... Some shizer [sic] performances on show last night. Maybe blessing in disguise? Some players not as good as they think they are."

Presumably the reason that Fowler is hoping the defeat can prove to be a blessing in disguise is that several of the club's inconsistent and below-par players are likely to be shipped out by Jurgen Klopp this summer as he begins to put his own stamp on the squad.

The likes of Moreno and Mignolet are likely to be at huge risk of seeing their Anfield careers cut short, whilst fringe players such as Christian Benteke are all but certain to leave the club.

Tom Nightingale

After starting to write about football due to lack of any great ability on the pitch, Tom is an NCTJ-qualified sports reporter who has written for Swansea City, the Birmingham Mail, and numerous other publications. An avid Aston Villa fan, he still hasn't got over them not turning up in the 2015 FA Cup final.